Machine for folding collars, &amp;c.



No. 668,920. Patented Feb. 26, I90I.

C.` H. KNAPP.

MACHINE FUR FULDING COLLARS, &c.

(Application led Mar. 8, 1900.) (N o M u d el.)

3 Sheetsf-Sheet 2..

No. 668,920. Patented Feb. 26, I90I. C. H. KNAPP.

MACHINE FR FOLDING COLLARS. &c. d

(Applcatonled MM. 6, 1900.

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iUNrrEp STATES EEICE.

ATENE MACHINE FOR FOLDING COLLARS, seo.

'srncnica'ron forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,920, dated February 26, 1901'.

Application filed March 6, 1900. Serial No 7,484. (No model.)

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. KNAPP, a citizen of the United States, residing in Paterson, in t-he county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cuff-Folding Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable Others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This Vinvention relates to the construction of cuffs, collars, shirt-bosoms, and other similar forms of wearing-apparel which are approximately rectangular in form and are composed ot' two or more layers of fabric properly stitfened; and the invention consists in a machine for folding the layers of an article of this nature in a manner peculiar to my improved construction thereof.

l have fully illustrated my inventionin the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a top plan view of myimproved machine, certain parts thereof being broken away. Fig. 2 is an end View of myimproved machine. Figs, 3 and 4 arerespectively a top plan view and an end View, certain parts being broken away, of a die used in connection with my machine. Fig. illustrates the arrangement of several plates comprised in the construction of said die. Figs. 6 and 7 show a portion of the mechanism for moving said plates, Fig. (i being a top plan view and Fig. 7 being` a View in side elevation. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of the machine as shown in Fig. l and illustrating operating means for certain other movable plates. Fig. 9 is an enlarged top plan View of a portion of one of said last-named movable plates and illustrating particularly the manner of connecting it to the next adjacent plate, and Fig. l0 is a plan view of the article produced by my machine.

At present cuffs and the other articles above referred to are formed by stitching together the two layers of material of which they are composed, with the stiffening between them, near and parallel to the foldingline formed by turning in each edge of each layer. At the corners of the article thus formed, since there is no other means than the stitching for maintaining the raw edges of the layers in proper disposition, the article is either likely to ravel or its material will be undesirably bunched, and either of these objections may arise, notwithstanding that the greatest care is employed in forming the article and notwithstanding that it is produced, as usual, by hand.

The article a (shown in Fig. lO) illustrates one of the two outside layers of aculf formed after the principles Ot myinvention. Referring to said figure, it will be seen that the layer is first folded lengthwise along one side edge, as at a', and then transversely along both end edges, at of o3, and then lengthwise again, as at co4, along the remaining side edge. Two layers thus folded are then placed together back to back and with the t'old t4 of each opposite the fold ct of the other, the ends of the fold a4 of each layer being set in between the ends of the fold a of the other layer and the adjoining ends of the folds a2 o3 thereof. Vhen the two layers are placed together in the manner just described, it will be seen that their corners interlock each other, and thus when the layers are stitched together near their edges to form the cuff the corners of the culf will not only be uniformly folded, but there will be no danger of their working out of place or raveling.

The machine which I am now about to describe is adapted to accomplish all the folding of each layer of the article to he produced in the manner above described where saidlayer is rectangular in form, or substantially so. Where the form of thelayer departs from the rectangular-that is to say, has some of its corners rounded-the folding Of said rounded corners may be accomplished by hand after the machine has performed the folding of the other corners.

The frame of the machine is designated by the reference-letter b and consists,essentially, of two standards, upon which is supported a bed-plate b', having a downwardly-extending surrounding flange b2, whereby itis bolted to said standards, and also provided with another downwardly-projecting fiange b3, which forms a rectangular inclosure, with which a plate b4, that is bolted thereto, forms a chest IOO or receptacle h5. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig` 2 and partially shown in full lines in Fig. 8.) Pipes b are connected to said chest or chamber for conveying steam or other heat vehicle through the same.

At the ends of the bed-plate in the flange b2 are journaled shafts c c', which are disposed beneath and lengthwise of said plate and parallel to and near its side edges. The shaft c constitutes the drive-shaft and may receive power in any desirable manner, as from a crank ou. It is connect-ed with the shaft c by means of a transversely-extending shaft c2, which is journaled in projections c3, extending inwardly from the flange b2 at one end of the bed-plate, bevel-gears cl being adapted to transmit rotary motion from the one to the other of the shafts cand c2 and c2 and c'. In projections c5, corresponding to the projections c3, is journaled transversely to the bed-plate and near the other end of the shaft c another shaft c6, said shaft and the shaft c being operatively connected by means of bevel-gearing c7.

Upon the top of the bed-plate rest, preferably, four thin slid-ing pressure-plates d, d', cl2, and d3. The plates d and d are arranged oppositely near the shorter sides of the bedplate, while the other two plates cl2 and d3 are arranged near the longer sides of said bedplate. Beneath each of these plates the bedplate is provided with a pair of rectangular openings CX13, through which extend forked projections d5, that are secured to the under side of the plate, preferably by screws d6. The several shafts carry cams 17, which are adjustably secured on said shafts and each of which is disposed between the bifurcations of one of the forked projections and adapted to impart through the latter in an obvious manner movements inwardly and outwardly on the bed-plate to the corresponding sliding plate. Each sliding plate is guided by means of screws or bolts d8, which penetrate slots dg in said plate. The plate d3 is provided at each of its inner corners with an L-shaped lug c, that extends longitudinally with reference to the plate and is considerably thinner than the plate itself. Upon the top of the plate cl3 and extending over each lug e is another lug e', whose innermost edge forms an extension of the corresponding edge of the plate. The free portion e2 of the L.-shap ed lug e and the outer end of the lug e', it will be seen, serve as guiding means for the adjacent plate cl or d. Regarding the plates cl d', it is to be said that the corners thereof which are adjacent the plate cl2 are provided with lugs e e', formed and disposed substantially as thelugs on the plate d3 and adapted to perform-the same function as above set forth.

Penetrating the bed-plate and each of the pair of plates d2 d3, which are provided with slotsf for their reception, are boltsf. These bolts and also the innermost bolts d8 of the plates d d extend downwardly an appreciable distance below the bed-plate and the chest or receptacle beneath it,the two boltsfof the plate d3 being connected by a link f2 and each pair of bolts d8 and f being connected by a corresponding link f3. Nuts on the lower ends of the bolts keep these links in position.

g is a vertical rod that extends downwardly beneath the bed-plate, having at its upper end a three-armed bracket g', whichis suspended from the links f2 and f3 and which is connected at its lower end to a lever g2, that is fnlcruined in lugs in the frame b and is itself connected by a pitrnan g3 with a weighted presser-lever g4, fulcrumed beneath said lever g2. When lthe pressenlever is operated bythe attendants foot, it will act through the three-armed bracket g', the links f2 and f3, and the bolts d8 and j" to press the several sliding plates against the bed plate. The sliding plates, it will be apparent, are adapted to effect the folds or creases in the article, and in order to strengthen them in their acting portions (it being remembered that they are comparatively thin) l have provided for the plates d d bracing-blocks h, which are secured thereto, preferably b v screws, and for the plates d2 d3 flat bars h', said bars being penetrated and kept in place by the bolts f.

The die which I have provided and shown in Figs. Sand 4 in detail and which is adapted to `hold the material in place against the bedplate while the sliding plates move inwardly, and to thus coact with said sliding plates, may be thus described: Projecting from the middle of one of the longer sides of the bedplate is a pair of lugs t', carrying a bolt t, which serves as a fulcrum for an arm At its free end this arm carries an integral bracket or frame j, to which is secured by bolts j a die-plate jz, having oblique camslotsj3 and provided with longitudinal slots j4 in its upper surface. Between the bracket or framey` and the dieplate and adapted to work longitudinally of thedie and to and from the center thereof is a pair of I-plates 7c, each having transverse slots 7s', adapted to register with the slots js in the die-plates, the registering slots being penetrated by pins 7a2. The end side of each I-plate is provided with a rib 7c3, which works in the slotj4 in the dieplate, and thus guides the I-plate. On the lower ends of the pins 7a2 are secured thin metallic strips or plates 704, which are disposed beneath the die-plate, of course, and slightly overlap each other. It will be seen that by moving the I-plates longitudinally toward the ends of the die the metallic strips or plates h4 will be made to assume the position indicated by a dot-and-dash line, (shown in Fig. 3,) while a reverse movement ol" the I-plates will retract the metallic strips or plates into the position in which they are partially shown in full lines in said figure. The top of each I-plate is provided with a longitudinal recess Z, in which is set a bar Z', having a longitudinal slot Z2, which receives a bolt Z3, whereby said bar is adjustably secured to the I-plate. The die-plate and also the bracket provide bearings for a shaft m, which carries a disk m, that is disposed between said bracket and the die-plate and is provided with eccentrically-arranged curved cam-slots m2, that receive pins m3 on the bars Z. Upon the upper end of the shaft m is secured a lever n, the one end of which is provided with a handle n' and to the other end of which is connected a pitman n2 by a ballwand-socket joint n3. The other or free end of this pit-man is connected, also bya ball-and-socket joint n4, with an arm n, that is pivotally mounted upon the shaft. t" and carries a lng 17,6, in which is ad justably mounted a set-screw a7, the head of which is adapted to contact with the fiange b2. It will be seen that the lever n is free to be moved when the die is in its lowermost position, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 2, while when the die is thrown back into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 as t-he setscrew a7 engages the flange b2 the stopping of the arm a5 before the die reaches its complete open position will act through the pitman n2 to turn the lever n, and consequently work the plates 7a4.

In operating the machine the attendant places the material from which the article is to be formed upon the bed-plate b', with the edges thereof overlapping the inner edges of the sliding plates. The distance which each edge of the material overlaps the corresponding plate determines the depth of the fold.

Thereupon the attendant lowers the die until the metallic strips or plates rest upon the material. It should be remarked that when the die is lowered the several strips or plates are in their extended positions-that is to say, as shown in the dot-and-dash line in Fig. 3- having been automatically so disposed by the action of the arm n as its rearward movement was stopped in the previous opening of j the die and in a manner already sufficiently described. The die being in place, the attendant throws the crank cw over into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, which action turns the shaft c and the other shafts c, c2, and c7 and through the bifurcated projections d5 and the cams CF effects the inward movements of the several plates. It should be here remarked that the cams are so disposed on their respective shafts that first the plate d3 moves, then the two end plates d d' move, and then the other plate cl2 moves. Assuming that the plate (Z3 moves first and that when the plates or strips fc4 of the die are in their extended position their edges approximately meet the edges of the sliding plates, the material will be folded along one of its longer edges, the fold being effected clear to each end by means of the lugs e. When the plates d d move inwardly, they are guided, as hereinbefore described, between the lugs e and e and effect the folding of the end edges of the material. That portion of the material where each end fold and the side fold already formed are overlapped is laid even, because as each plate d d advances it can fold the material at this point back over the edge el@ of the L-sl1aped lug e. When the plates d d have advanced to their full extent, the plate d2 moves inwardly, and thus effects the folding of the other long edge in the same manner as the folding of the other edges is effected by the other plates. Having effected the folding of the material, tbe operator Works the lever n to thus retract the plates 7a4, whereupon he throws the die back into the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 2. Pressure is then applied to the several sliding plates by means of the presser-lever g4, so as to lay and maintain the folds even. The pressing operation is greatly facilitated by the heating of the bed-plate by steam, hot air, or hot water, that is conveyed into and out of the chamber or chest of which the center portion of said bed-plate forms the top wall.

In order to keep the material securely in position upon the top of the bed-plate, the latter may be provided with corrugations r.

As hereinbefore intimated, the special function of the lugs e is the proper and even folding of the material at the corners. It has been remarked that when either of the plates d3, d, or d advances the body portion of' a fold is effected, while the folding is carried ont nearly to t-he ends of the material by these lugs. Each free end of the fold thus left that is to say, as much of each end as marks the depth of each adjacent side fold-is folded back over the edge e10 of each lug e (which edge,it will be noticed,is in alinement with the acting edge of the side plate when the latter is in its retracted position) into the space or recess between said lug e and the lug e by the edge of the adjacent side plate d or d or of the plate d2 as it advances to produce its respective fold, The lug e and the free or projecting portieri of the lug e have practically nothing to do with the folding operation proper, being merely guides to insure true rectilineal movements of the plates.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecnre by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a machine for folding back the edges of a piece of fabric or other similar material, the combination, with the frame, of a bedplate, sliding pressure-plates having slots, bolts penetrating said slots and suspended from said plates, pressure-exerting means, and operative connection between said bolts and the pressure-exerting means, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for folding back the edges of a piece of fabric or other similar material, the combination, with the frame, of a bedplate, sliding pressure-plates having slots, bolts penetrating said slots and suspended from said plates, links connecting the lower ends of said bolts, a bracket connected to said loo IIO

links, pressure-exerting means, and operative connection between said pressure-exerting means and the bracket, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for folding back the edges of a piece of fabric or other similar material, the combination, with the frame, of a bedplate,sliding pressure-plates arranged on said bed-plate for movement toward a common point, projections extending downwardly from said pressureplates, interconnected shafts journaled in said frame and disposed transversely to the direction of movement of said pressure-plates, and cams carried by said shafts and adapted to engage said projections, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for folding back the edges of a piece of fabric or other similar material, the combination, with the frame, of a bedplate, sliding pressure-plates arranged on said bed-plate for movement toward a common point, forked projections extending downwardly from said pressure-plates, interconnected shafts journaled in said frame and disposed transversely to the direction of movement of said pressure-plates, and cams carried by said shafts and received by and adapted to engage said forked projections, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for folding back the edges of a piece of fabric or other similar material, the combination, with a bed-plate and a movable die, of a series of sliding plates mounted on said bed-plate about the die and adapted to coact therewith, lugs arranged on some of said plates, said lugs being disposed at the contiguous corners of adjoining plates and each having one of its edges constituting an extension of the folding edge of one, and another of its edges. adapted to coact with the folding edge of the other, of said adjoining plates, and another lug disposed over each of said first-named lugs and having one of its edges coincident with the first-named edge thereof, substantially as described. p

6. In a machine for folding back the edges of a substantially rectangular piece of fabric or other similar material, the combination, with the frame, of a bed-plate mounted on said frame, suitably-guided pressure-plates arranged on said bed-plate and movable to and from the sides thereof, downwardly-extending bolts connected to said sliding plates, links connecting said bolts, a presser-lever fulcrumed in said frame, operative connecting means between said presser-lever and the links, an arm fulcrumed in said bed-plate, a die carried by said arm, adapted to assume a vposition in the space over the bed-plate and between said sliding plates, and comprising a die-plate, contractile'plates disposed on the under side of said die-plate, and means for actuating said contractile plates, said contractile plates being adapted to coact with the sliding plates, operatively-connected revoluble shafts journaled on the under side of said eeaeao bed-plate, cams mounted on said shafts, and forked projections carried by said sliding plates and engaging said cams, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for folding back the edges of a substantially rectangular piece of fabric or other similar material, a die member consisting of a die-plate, a rectilineally-movable bar mounted on said die-plate, said die-plate and the bar having registering pairs of slots of which the one slot iu each pair is disposed obliquely to the other, contractile plates disposed on the under side of said die-plate, projections penetrating said slots and connected with said contractile plates, and means for actuating said baigsubstantially as described.

8. In a machine for folding back the edges of a piece of fabric or other similar material, the combination, with the frame, of a bedplate mounted on said frame, an arm fulcru mcd on said frame, contractile die-plates carried by said arm, a lever carried by said arm and cont rollingsaid die-plates,and means, operatively connected to said lever and adapted to engage a suitable part of the machine, for shifting said lever when the arm is moved on its fulcrum, substantially as described.

9. In a machine for folding back the edges of a piece of fabric or other similar material, the combination, with the frame, of a bedplate mounted on said frame, an arm fulcrumed on said frame, contractile die-plates carried by said arm, a lever carried by said arm and controlling said die-plates, another arm fulcrumed iu said frame, a stop for limiting the movement of said last-named arm, and a pitman pivotally connected to said lastnamed arm and the lever, substantially as de1 scribed.

l0. In a machine for folding back the edges of a substantially rectangular piece of fabric or other similar material, the combination, with the frame, of a bed-plate mounted on s aid frame, lugs projecting` from said bedplate, a shaft carried by said lugs, arms fulcrumed on said shaft, a contractile die carried by one of said arms, a lever controlling said contractile die, a pitman having a balland-socket connection with one end of said lever and also with the other arm, a stop carried by said last-named arm, and suitably-operated sliding plates mounted on said bedplate and movable to and from the sides thereof, said die being adapted to assume al position in the space over the bed-plate and between the sliding plates and adapted to coact with the latter, substantially as described.

ll. In a machine for folding back the edges of a substantially rectangular piece of fabric or other similar material, the combination, with a bed-plate and a movable die, of a series of sliding plates mounted in rectangular disposition on said bed-plate and movable toward and from the sides thereof, one of said sliding plates having thin lugs at its ends and adjacent its folding edge and adapted to be IOO IIO

overlapped by the folding edges of the neXt adjoining sliding plates, and said adjoining plates having similar lugs adapted to be overlapped by the corresponding edge of the remaining sliding plate, substantially as described.

l2. In a machine for folding back the edges of a substantially rectangular piece of fabric or other similar material, the combination, with a bed-plate and a movable die, of a series of sliding plates mounted in rectangular disposition ou said bed-plate and movable toward and from the sides thereof, one of said slidingplates having thin L-shaped lugs atits ends and adjacent its folding edge and overlapped by the folding edges of the next adjoining sliding plates, and said adjoining plates having similar L-shaped lugs overlapped by the corresponding edge of the remaining sliding plate, and said first-named sliding plate and said next adjoining sliding plates also having lugs projecting over said first-named lugs and coacting therewith to form guides, substantially as described.

13. In a machine for folding back the edges of a piece of fabric or other similar material, the combination,with a bed-plate and a movable die, of a series of sliding plates mounted on said bed-plate about the die and adapted to coact therewith, and lugs arranged on some of said plates, said lugs being disposed at the contiguous corners of adjoining plates and each having one of its edges constituting an extension of the folding edge of one, and another of its edges adapted to coact with the folding edge of the other, of said adjoining plates, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of August, 1899.

CHAS. H. KNAPP.

Witnesses:

WM. D. BELL, JOHN W. STEWARD. 

